Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[Wax Myrtle]

First time, I spent about two hours. Had to pause after the slice and calm the shakes (with grape juice, yes, it was ... mature grape juice!) and then I kept my laptop behind me (with mouse in a baggie so I could scroll w/o washing hands) and kept looking back and forth at the drawing part of the tutorial. Plucking took a while - don't think I had my scald temp high enough and I am a perfectionist to boot so spent way too long feeling for every single little wisp. I still do, hope a plucker will help me with that part.

After the second one two months later, I haven't had to refer to a tutorial and my speed is closer to one hour per bird. Again, plucking perfectionist. I even find myself wanting to pluck the neck way up near the head, even tho I know I'll cut off most of that skin.

Sally, you sound like you may be working up to processing one of your cockerels before your drop off date? If I can do it all by myself, going only from internet tutorials, I know you can! You won't believe the feeling you'll have, knowing you can provide food for your family, that you have a very valuable life skill. You will no longer rely on being given a fish, because you will know how to fish.

Plus, once you feed your DH homegrown birds and he sees how tasty they are, you'll have good reason to build the cabinet bator.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: My thoughts too!

I trapped when I was a lot younger and this was the most difficult for me trapping, esp possums in the traps. I have horror stories on that topic for sure.

Quote: gotcha! so they would need to be away from my other birds.....

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Which brings up yet another unknown to me......

If I get NPIP Certified, how do "meaties" fit in?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote not working, hope I remember what I wanted to comment on...

When I set up my blood collection bucket I don't use a bag liner - I add about an inch of water to the bottom, and when cleaning up, I pour it all in my composter. The water keeps it from clotting onto the bucket.

I don't stun. From what I've observed, after the first big gush, they seem to lose conciousness pretty much right away. Lesson learned from my personal horror story is that they'll faint even when you don't cut deeply enough to hit the spot. Then they wake up right when you think it's over.

OH NO!!!

I don't have a professional cone - I use a cut down traffic cone. But it isn't a real traffic cone, it's one of the smaller sports ones. So, on my tools list is a length of Velcro to tie legs together and to the cone post very quickly and painlessly to keep them from using their legs to pop back out of the cone.

I don't wear a coat - the cone will keep the gore confined. I do wear a fabric apron, but mostly because I like to lean against my sink as I pluck.

Yes, do remove the oil gland. Didn't notice once that a whole chicken I bought once hadn't had the oil gland removed. Simmered it for chicken salad and found the gland while removing meat. Figured to go ahead and give it a try. Baaaad chicken salad. Been a couple three, four years and I can still taste that. Ew.

oh I forget if I added the cone to that list! gotta check!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

First time, I spent about two hours. Had to pause after the slice and calm the shakes (with grape juice, yes, it was ... mature grape juice!) and then I kept my laptop behind me (with mouse in a baggie so I could scroll w/o washing hands) and kept looking back and forth at the drawing part of the tutorial. Plucking took a while - don't think I had my scald temp high enough and I am a perfectionist to boot so spent way too long feeling for every single little wisp. I still do, hope a plucker will help me with that part.

After the second one two months later, I haven't had to refer to a tutorial and my speed is closer to one hour per bird. Again, plucking perfectionist. I even find myself wanting to pluck the neck way up near the head, even tho I know I'll cut off most of that skin.

Sally, you sound like you may be working up to processing one of your cockerels before your drop off date? If I can do it all by myself, going only from internet tutorials, I know you can! You won't believe the feeling you'll have, knowing you can provide food for your family, that you have a very valuable life skill. You will no longer rely on being given a fish, because you will know how to fish.

Plus, once you feed your DH homegrown birds and he sees how tasty they are, you'll have good reason to build the cabinet bator.

You are correct in your assumptions and it may happen this weekend, I don't have a big pot/boiler...


Any suggestions on pots and way to heat them outside?

I don't think I trust the kids around boiling water and a fire with this going down all at once. And I don't have anyone that can "watch" my kiddos either.

 

[Elke Beck]

They make bigger cones...Just sayin....

This story is why I use the broom method.

Yes, I know they make bigger cones, however I did not have one at the time so that was a moot point.

 

[Elke Beck]

Anyone have a handy list of things to have on hand, besides gloves ??

I see some people wearing gloves too I assume this is preference and also contamination related

Several sharp knives or replacement blades if you use that kind of knife
a large pot to scald
trash bags for the feathers and other stuff you want to dispose of if you have to trash it, otherwise some kind of container to hold it until you bury it or whatever
a sturdy table to work on
zipper lock or other bags to hold the carcass and anything else you are going to eat


I use gloves because it is a messy process, and rather than having to stop, wash the feces off my hands, dry them and then get back to work multiple times, any time I have contaminated gloves I just take the soiled ones off and pull on a new pair. It makes it faster and easier for me.

 

[missnu01]

I never heard of it either, but what do I know!  How on earth does one STUN the bird first, with a stun gun but we certainly aren't commercial processors and have such an item!

A quick, solid whack on the back of the head, at it's base near the neck will knock them out.  Use a hammer, or my preference would be a short piece of black iron pipe.  With a hammer you would have to aim much closer because you have a very small surface area to work with (about 1" diameter maybe, depending on size of hammer) with a piece of pipe or a small bat/ baton you just use the length surface.

Wouldn't hitting the bird in the head with a hammer kill it anyway?

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

First time, I spent about two hours. Had to pause after the slice and calm the shakes (with grape juice, yes, it was ... mature grape juice!) and then I kept my laptop behind me (with mouse in a baggie so I could scroll w/o washing hands) and kept looking back and forth at the drawing part of the tutorial. Plucking took a while - don't think I had my scald temp high enough and I am a perfectionist to boot so spent way too long feeling for every single little wisp. I still do, hope a plucker will help me with that part.

After the second one two months later, I haven't had to refer to a tutorial and my speed is closer to one hour per bird. Again, plucking perfectionist. I even find myself wanting to pluck the neck way up near the head, even tho I know I'll cut off most of that skin.

Oh my gosh, the first bird my DH and I processed together must have taken us over three hours. That's the crux of my advice to set aside at least half a day for the first one! Now I can pluck one in about five minutes. People who pluck them in less than a minute amaze me.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

My thoughts too!

I trapped when I was a lot younger and this was the most difficult for me trapping, esp possums in the traps. I have horror stories on that topic for sure.

gotcha! so they would need to be away from my other birds.....

Well--they won't have Marek's coming from the hatchery. And they probably won't be near any infected birds before their demise. So I would say just don't worry about it. BUT--if you are concerned, a Marek's vaccination costs like 14 cents.